Oregon is a state with a long history of laws about alcohol. It all started as early as 1844! Oregon has always been a state where the state has a monopoly over the sale of alcohol. But what does that mean for normal people like you and me? Can we easily buy some rum if we want to?
Do grocery stores sell liquor in Oregon?
No, in Oregon, you can only buy liquor in OLCC (Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission) run liquor stores and establishments with liquor licenses.
While that might be disappointing and inconvenient, it isn’t as bad as it looks. It is a lot worse in some other states.
Why Can’t Grocery Stores Sell Liquor in Oregon?
Oregon is a so-called control state when it comes to alcohol. This means the state has a monopoly on the sales of all liquor. Even wines with an alcohol content of over 14% cannot be sold in grocery stores.
You can only buy liquor (to take home) in stores run by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC). Likely, the state will never give up this control because it’s a fairly lucrative business.
Do Walmart And Target Sell Liquor In Oregon?
Target and Walmart are not controlled by the OLCC, so they cannot sell liquor in their Oregon stores.
You can buy beer and wine in both chains. Keep in mind, though: any wine with an alcohol content over 14% also is not allowed to be sold in grocery stores.
Where Can You Buy Liquor In Oregon?
You can buy liquor in a variety of stores owned by the OLCC. There is no shortage of them. In Portland alone, there are at least ten OLCC stores.
The OLCC makes it quite easy, too, to find these stores. You use their store finder to find the liquor stores closest to where you are.
Liquor can also be sold via online stores (with proper licensing), so you can get liquor delivered to you if going into a liquor store is not your kind of thing.
You can also buy liquor in some other establishments, but only for consumption within those places, e.g., restaurants and bars, with the appropriate license. You will not be allowed to take any liquor purchased there with you.
Related Questions
Why Are The Alcohol Laws Different In Each State?
After 1933, which marked the end of prohibition, a time during which the production and sale of alcohol were forbidden in the USA, each state could make its own alcohol laws.
As you know, some states are more religious, some have a higher crime rate, and some take their elections very seriously. The state’s people and politicians play a big part in the state’s alcohol laws.
With so many cultural differences, it is no surprise that many states have quite different laws about alcohol.
Can You Buy Liquor On Sundays In Oregon?
Many states don’t allow alcohol to be sold on Sundays (though many changes happened in the last few years, with some states becoming a bit more relaxed). Oregon is not one of them.
Liquor stores can be open on a Sunday if they want to.
What Is The Oregon Bottle Bill?
The Oregon Bottle Bill is a law that states that people must be able to receive a small refund when returning bottles. This covers all covered beverages in cans or bottles made from metal, glass, or plastic, with some exceptions (e.g., baby formula, milk, and syrups).
Final Thoughts
Of course, buying liquor in a grocery store would be easier. It is also less embarrassing than walking into a liquor store for many people.
However, it is very unlikely that you will have the option to buy liquor in Oregon grocery stores anytime soon. There are plenty of liquor stores in Oregon; if those aren’t your thing, you can do some online shopping.
And be honest: what’s more convenient than getting your liquor delivered right to your front door?
Read our related alcohol articles:
- Do Grocery Stores Sell Liquor in Tennessee?
- Do Grocery Stores Sell Liquor in Texas?
- Do Grocery Stores Sell Liquor in Arizona?
- Do Grocery Stores Sell Liquor in California?
- Do Grocery Stores Sell Wine in the United States?
- Do Grocery Stores Sell Liquor in New York?
- Do Grocery Stores Sell Liquor in Florida?